Andrew Agozzino insists his recent points outburst is simply a matter of comfort.

Comfort with his Niagara IceDogs linemates Alex Friesen and Brett Ritchie, that is.

For much of the season, Agozzino lined up with fellow over-agers Friesen and David Pacan. More recently, however, the IceDogs captain has been skating with Friesen, with whom he was drafted in 2007, and power forward Ritchie.

All three have been putting up points, but not quite as many as Agozzino, who has eight points (all assists) in his last three games). He is currently seventh among league scoring leaders with 36 goals and 78 points while playing in all 59 games this season.

“It’s been fun playing with Friesen and Ritchie,” the fifth-year IceDogs player said. “I think we’ve found some real good chemistry and it’s showing.

“We’re real happy with the way we’re playing, but we think we can do a little better.”

Over the same three games, Ritchie has three goals and three assists and Friesen three goals and two assists.

The team captain said the three are always talking, whether it be on the bench or on the ice.

“A lot of communication goes into it. On the bench, we’re always talking about what we see, what we feel will work and we go out there and try to execute what we’ve talked about.”

What everybody feels the IceDogs may be talking about are two dates with the Ottawa 67’s, who are just two points behind Niagara in the race for top spot in the Eastern Conference. The IceDogs travel to the nation’s capital March 9 and the 67’s return the visit March 17 — the IceDogs’ final home game of the regular season.

If that’s the case, the IceDogs captain isn’t saying so.

“It’s definitely something that’s marked on the calendar, but every time we’re playing, they’re playing as well. So we know they’re probably going to get two points and we have to keep pace and elevate our game so they need to catch us.

“You don’t want to look too far ahead to those games — you want them to mean something when you get there.”

NIAGARA BREAKS THROUGH

For the second time this season (and the first since the CHL rankings were released), the Niagara IceDogs are ranked among the top 10 teams in Canada.

The IceDogs (39-17-0-3) took over 10th place in the rankings while the Ottawa 67’s (36-16-5-2) dropped out completely. Many have questioned — especially after Niagara defeated the then-No. 1 ranked London 3-2 at the John Labatt Centre Feb. 3 — why the IceDogs have received the recognition so many felt they deserved.

There was also a change at the top as the Saint John Sea Dogs (45-14-0-2) of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League took over top spot over the Knights (44-14-0-1).

The Plymouth Whalers (40-17-2-1), the only other OHL team ranked, moved from eighth place to seventh.

IceDogs this Week

SAGINAW THURSDAY

Saginaw Spirit: Sixth in the Western Conference with a 27-25-1-7 record, including 4-3-1-2 in past 10 games. Road record is 11-13-1-5. Power play ranked third at 21.7%. Penalty kill ninth at 81.7%

Niagara IceDogs: First in Eastern Conference with 39-17-0-3 record, including 8-2 in past 10 games. Home record is 21-6-0-2. Road record 18-11-0-1. Power play ranked first at 26.1%. Penalty kill first at 85.2%.

Following are the stats of former Niagara IceDogs who have moved on to the pro ranks. Skaters’ stats are listed in order of games played, goals, assists, total points, penalty minutes and plus/minus. Goalies’ stats are listed in order of record, goals against average and save percentage.